LOOK BEYOND MEDICINE
By Manjit Kaur

Medicine is not the only course that students with straight As can opt for. Studylink Sdn Bhd managing director Tony Tan said that students must ask themselves whether they have the necessary requirements to become a good doctor.

How many of them have actually done community service in a welfare or nursing home and or have communicated or touched patients,” he said during a talk organised for secondary school counsellors at Cititel Hotel in Penang on Monday.

The talk Options After SPM was jointly organized by the state education department and Studylink to create awareness among school counsellors on the choices open to students locally and overseas. Tan said beside medicine, courses like sports science, chiropractic, physiotherapy and bio-medical sciences should be emphasised more.

“There are only 10 qualified chiropractors in the country, as more people upon having body aches either visits tukang urut or a sinseh.

“What people don’t know is that the pain required adjustments to the bone, nerve and joints of the body, and who will know better than a qualified chiropractor,” he said adding that chiropractors could also earn a lucrative income and use the title ‘Dr’.

Tan said sports science was suitable for those who do not want to become professional athletes as they could become coaches. He said doing a double degree was another option students should consider taking up.

“In Malaysia the trend is not so popular, but a majority of students from other countries are pursuing double degrees.  For example those interested to pursue law degree can also take up commerce. It will be an advantage for those who want to become corporate lawyers,” he said.

Another good option was for those doing journalism to take up a basic science course that would provide them with a better understanding of writing medical and science related articles.

Tan also cited an example where a student had approached him, stating that he wanted to become a Formula 1 driver and asked him what sort of course he should pursue.

“I explained to him that with his good results, it was better for him to take up automotive typeering and design and maintain racing cars.

“When we watched F1 and we can see crew members running to change the car’s tyre, at least a few among them have a master’s degree in automotive typeering,” he added.